General Interest

Our last piece was by Michael King and suggested that the New Perennial or Naturalistic style was getting everywhere and being used insensitively. Susan Cohan goes slightly further than that and dares to express an admiration for formality; indeed, four hundred year old formality. Interesting? Anne Wareham, editor Susan Cohan: I’m taking sides with Andre […]

Michael King has just stirred things up again by publishing a post on his blog suggesting we may be finding naturalistic planting a little ubiquitous. Is it all getting a bit samey? (Is the classic herbaceous border a bit samey too, though?) And are naturalistic schemes in danger of simply replicating themselves – planting by […]

I have had no difficulty getting reviewers of books or magazines for thinkingardens, but people are still backward in coming forward with garden reviews. We need them. Tristan suggests why and how… I hope it will encourage you to send them piling in…. Anne Wareham, editor PS I realise this sounds a little ungracious towards […]

As someone who has been damned for being a self promoter, I must definitely come in the ‘braggart’ category. (see Veddw blog…)(see what I mean?) And you? Why do you blog? Here’s Jane Scorer’s opinion. Anne Wareham, editor Jane Scorer There must be as many reasons for garden blogging as there are bloggers, some altruistic and […]

Here we are again, after a short break which had you all hammering my door down, demanding a new post. So here it is. Sustainability is good, yes? And parks are great places to play, sunbathe, take the kids, walk the dog and play football – right? Well, perhaps… Jill Sinclair has been having slightly […]

Suppers are back! Well – one is, thanks to the effort and initiative of Lucy Masters, who wrote this piece to introduce the debate. And Chris Young, editor of RHS The Garden, who will be chairing it for us! Thanks Chris. This time we will not only have the discussion at the supper, but, bearing […]

Now, after all that discussion and noise in response to Thomas Rainer’s piece about intermingling planting, here is Noel’s reply to Thomas. (and sorry, he hadn’t read all your comments before writing it..) I must apologise to all those who deplore my (quote) “relentless puffing of Veddw garden everywhere you can, especially on thinkingardens” but it […]

This is going to be challenging and interesting, everyone, (get your brains out) and it is just what thinkingardens is for. Recently Thomas Rainer published a post on his excellent blog raising questions in response to Noel Kingsbury and Piet Oudolf’s latest book, Planting, a New Perspective. I asked him to write us a piece […]

A short time ago James van Sweden died. I vividly remember the excitement I felt when I first came across the book ‘Bold Romantic Gardens’ which he wrote with Wolfgang Oehme. (It seems my copy is now worth £60.10) Noel Kingsbury wrote a memoir on his blog and also kindly gave me permission to use it here. […]

Well, what do you think? Do you enjoy seeing our towns adorned like this? Or should we scrap it and find some better way to display our horticultural expertise? Anne Wareham, editor Christine Dakin: BRITAIN IN BLOOM You’ll remember the time when towns and cities are sprouting containers full of bright and colourful bedding plants. […]

Mary Keen recently came across a blog post which was frank about the writer’s opinion of her garden. It was clear from her response both in her comments and a subsequent article that she was genuinely shocked and surprised to discover what they thought. It was what a lot of people that I have heard […]

It’s an odd way to approach something which should be such a total, immersive, absorbing experience: to go round a garden with a guide or with the proud owner wittering at you. (sorry, Rory – would love to have you wittering at me anywhere…) Why not take a book, some music, prepare to linger?.. But […]

Do you have the patience? Here is Sally Gregson, shooting herself in the foot: a nurserywoman encouraging us to think (and look and think some more?) before we buy… Anne Wareham, Editor Sally Gregson: Several years ago in Italy Carlo Petrini started the Slow Food Movement in protest against the proposed McDonald’s at the foot […]

I am very grateful for the generosity of Tim Richardson and the editor, Sarah Giles, of the Garden Design Journal for permitting me to use this piece, which I think raises an issue, as Tim says, of special importance to designers of small gardens. (as opposed to small garden designers..) I don’t have handy examples of over-design, […]

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Latest Articles and Reviews

I’ve never managed to get into Througham Court yet. One day I will. Meanwhile, thanks (many thanks) to Pat Webster of the excellent and truly interesting website Site and Insight where this first appeared, we get a view… Anne Wareham, editor Througham Court – review by Pat Webster Are gardens intellectual […]

Are you a garden volunteer? Or a professional gardener? An employer of either? You may find this piece interesting. Anne Wareham, editor Volunteer Gardeners: The Enemy Within, by Rachel Cassidy: At this very moment, in a thousand gardens up and down the country, unqualified and inexperienced volunteers are pulling up weeds and pruning roses, for […]

I have been known to wonder if the New Perennial look is getting a bit passé. That was before I watched a bit of television…. Anne Wareham, editor Alison Levey: Review of Britain’s Best Back Gardens and Show Me Your Garden For months and months of the year gardeners who watch television […]

I’ve been hoping for a review of Great Dixter, and now here it is, thanks to Robin White. And it’s the second piece I’ve now read recently about the garden: it is also featured in The Garden (RHS) in the October edition. (See here) One of the things people say to me often – you’ll […]